Lock fob stop-boxes



P. R.'CRALL.

I LOCK FOR STOP BOXES. APPLICATION FILED own. 1918- Patented June 24,1919.

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a wgewtoz PJWLQMRGWZZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRENTISS R. CRALL, 0F COLUMBUS OHIO.

LOOK FOR STOP-BOXES.

Application filed December 21, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PRENTISS R. CRALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looks forStop-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the improvement of locks for stop boxes suchas are ordinarily employed in connection with water and gas servicepipes.

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved means for lockingthe cap or top memberof a stop box in connection with the top of saidbox; to so construct and arrange the parts of my improved lock, ingdevice that access to the locking bolt which is ordinarily employed isprevented unless the sealing member is broken.

It is well known that a plumber or other person having a suitable toolmay readily remove the locking bolt which is ordinarily employed in stopboxes thereby permitting of the removal of the cap or top plate and ofthe insertion into the stop box of a key or other tool for the purposeof turning the "alve which controls the supply of water or gas tocertain premises and it is an object of my invention not only to preventthe unauthorized turning of the valve but to show at a glance whether ornot the lid of the stop box has been removed.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyingsheet of drawing wherein similar characters of ref erence designatecorresponding parts and wherein,

Figure 1 upper portion of a proved looking or sealing tion therewith,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the ordinary stop box bolt andportions of the parts connected thereby, my improved device being shownin its locked or sealed position, and

Fig. 4 is a face view of the locking washer or disk which I employ inthe manner hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawing 1 represents the usual cylindrical stop boxsuch as is ordinarily used by gas and water companies and through whichaccess is gained to the valve which controls a supply of water and gasto the adjoining premises. The upper is a view in elevation of the stopbox havlng my 1111- device in connec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 24, 1919.

Serial No. 267,854.

and otherwise open end of the stop box body is provided with the usualinwardly projecting horizontal lug 2. Three (3) represents theseparately formed lid or cap plate of the stop. box which is designed tocover said stop box and which is formed with a suitable depression 4.This depression or seat 4 is designed to receive the enlarged head 5 ofa bolt or screw 6, the threaded portion of which is adapted to engageopposing openings in the depressed portion at of the cap 3 and in thebox lug 2, the latter being a threaded opening. In carrying out my invention I employ about the stem of the bolt 6 adjacent its head 5alocking disk 7. This disk has a short collar like member 8 projectingdownward from about its central opening when theouter or marginalportion of the disk is formed with a plurality of radial cuts orincisions 9 which result in the production of radial spring tongues 10.These spring tongue portions as indicated more clearly in Fig. 3 of thedrawing are preferably beveled or gradually reduced in thickness towardtheir outer ends and are bent downward at a suitable incline from thebody of the disk. The disk 7 or that portion thereof which immediatelyadjoins the downturned member 8 bears upon a washer 11 which washer hasan outwardly extending base flange 1 2, the circumferential outer sideof which is beveled as indicated in the drawing. A washer 11 is seatedupon the floor of the depression 4 in the cap plate. Thirteen (13)represents a looking or sealing cap which is preferably of inverted cupshape and which is designed as a housing for the upper portion of thebolt and its head together with the disk 7 and washer 11. In

' forming this locking cap I provide on its inner face near its lowerend a continuous internal shoulder 14, the internal surface of the capfrom the level of its shoulder to cap base being beveled internally asindicated at 15; this bevel was corresponding with and contacting withthe beveled outer surface of the washer flange 12 when the locking capis in its locked position. Then the locking cap is pressed into thelocked position shown in Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawing it will beunderstood that the internal beveled surface 15 of the cap is intendedto come into contact with the ends of the locking tongues 10 causing thelatter to be depressed or sprung downward and inward until they havereached the level of the the shoulder 14 at which point said tongueswill be permitted to spring outward and engage the shoulder 14. Thisengagement of the shoulder 14 and the spring locking tongues will serveto clearly lock the cap member 13 from removal from its locked positionabout the bolt head. It is obvious that the presence of the flangedwasher 8 will prevent manipulation of the spring tongues from outsidethe cap by the insertion of any in strument beneath the edge of the cap.

The locking cap being in the position described and shown inthe drawingit will be readily understood that access to the head of the bolt whichis necessary to disconnect the cap plate 3 and the stop box isprohibited. In fact the nature of my improved lock is such that accessto the head of the bolt can only be attained by breaking the cap member13. These cap members it will be understood may bemade of comparativelycheap material such as cast iron which will admit of their being brokenby representatives of the gas or water companies who are authorized toturn on or olf water from certain premises, without incurring more thananominal expense. It will be further understood that the finding of astop box with a broken cap member will at once be an indication thatsome unauthorized person has gained access to the valve which controlsthe supply of water to the adjacent premises, whereas under the presentpractice of exposing the head of the locking bolt permits anyone to gainaccess to the stop box without leaving any indication that such accesshas been gained.

From the above description it will be seen that my device is simple inconstruction, can be produced at low cost of manufacture and will resultin a great saving to water and gas supply companies.

iat I claim is: 1. In a locking device for stop boxes, the combinationwith a stop box body, a sep arately formed top plate therefor and, abolt adapted to unite said top plate and stop box, of a locking memberbeneath the head of said bolt and a sealing cap having internal meansfor engagement with said locking member when the cap is pressed downwardover the head of the bolt.

2. In a locking device for stop boxes, the combination with a. stop boxbody, a top plate therefor and a bolt uniting said top plate and stopbox, of a locking disk mounted on said bolt beneath the head of thelatter, said disk being provided with spring tongues, and a sealing caphaving a shoulder on its inner wall surface adapted when said cap ispresseddownward over said bolt head to engage said spring tongues.

3. In a locking device for stop boxes, the combination with a stop boxbody, a top plate therefor and a bolt uniting said top plate and stopbox, of a locking disk 1nount ed on said bolt beneath the head of thelatter, said disk being provided with spring tongues, a washer alsomounted on said bolt beneath said spring locking disk and a sealing caphaving an internal shoulder which is adapted to be engaged by the saidspring tongues when said cap is in place over the head of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PRENTISS R. GRALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

